TRACKING TRAFFIC Texas Department of Transportation said one reason widening Hwy. 242 is needed is to ease congestion. TxDOT data shows the average annual daily traffic count at various intersections along the proposed project have been generally increasing since 2017.
CUTTING THROUGH THE WOODLANDS The Texas Department of Transportation’s proposed expansion of Hwy. 242 would add two additional lanes near FM 1488, a plan area residents have voiced concerns against.
2 Hwy. 242 to I-45 South
KEY
1 Hwy. 242 and eastbound I-45
A
5
3 Hwy. 242 and
4 Hwy. 242 and FM 1488
5 Westbound FM 1488
1488
westbound I-45
4
W.G. JONES STATE FOREST
60K
45
50K
40K
2 3
30K
1
242
20K
10K
.
E
0
2021
2017
2018
2019
2020
Estimated cost: $40 million Anticipated construction start: fall 2023
Project length: 4.4 miles Add two lanes (total up to 6) and reduce grassy median by 20 feet
the project that make sense, but he has concerns about the proposed changes. “For people who live right here, … they came to The Woodlands in part because of the quality of life and standards they have [here],” Chumb- ley said. “The state should be work- ing with locals. I am very concerned … [TxDOT] have made up their mind about what they are going to do regard- less of the discussions they have had with people.” Scope of the project According to TxDOT’s June 16 vir- tual presentation, construction on the 4.4-mile project is anticipated to begin in fall 2023. If completed as proposed, Hwy. 242 will consist of six 12-foot lanes along- side 10-foot-wide shoulders, and the median will be reduced from 44 feet to 22 feet. To address drainage, TxDOT proposed three detention ponds to be constructed totaling 21.2 acres. Along with TxDOT’s project, a Hous- ton-Galveston Area Council mobility study with Montgomery County Pre- cinct 2 that has been ongoing since 2020 has identified projects to be completed along Hwy. 242, including adding turn lanes at the intersection of Hwy. 242 and FM 1488, restriping parts of the highway, installing a shared-use path and changing signal timing. The H-GAC and Montgomery County Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley declined to comment on the proposed
project as of Sept. 6. TxDOT Public Information Officer Emily Black said the widening proj- ect aims to address congestion and travel delays, to lower crash rates and improve safety. Average daily traffic counts have risen at Hwy. 242 and FM 1488 since 2017, increasing from 15,767 in 2017 to 16,922 in the most recent report for 2021, with a spike in 2019 at 18,000 prior to the coronavirus pandemic. The virtual presentation stated that once completed, the project will pro- mote safety by “updating the roadway to current design standards.” Following the public comment period that closed Aug. 15, Black said the comments would be made public in around three months. The TxDOT presentation stated the project is consistent with the H-GAC’s long-range transportation plan and will be funded by the state. TxDOT said it will conduct an envi- ronmental study to determine the potential environmental impacts to ensure the project falls within desig- The Woodlands Township Direc- tor Shelley Sekula-Gibbs said she has heard concerns from residents about the amount of traffic the project could bring through The Woodlands as well as how it could change some of the area aesthetics if the proposed sound walls nated state guidelines. Community concerns
N
Among the reasons listed for the project is to decrease the number of crashes at various intersections along Hwy. 242 as it passes through The Woodlands. QUANTIFYING CRASHES
Average Hwy. 242 crash counts (2017-19)
233
187 Green Bridge Drive FM 1488/Hwy. 249
A
Statewide highway average: 157
B
927
Gosling Road
C
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
that has concerns is that … it is mostly all residential except for the Alden Bridge Sports Park. Nothing else will be added on either side of the road to increase traffic or stop in that area.” Information from a June 16 TxDOT virtual meeting cited a need for the project due to congestion, travel delays and high crash rates in the area with a yearly average of 927 crashes on the intersection of Hwy. 242 and Gosling Road from 2017-19. However, area residents said they worry adding the additional two lanes will make the crossing more difficult and dangerous for the Windvale com- munity. Windvale resident Tom Chum- bley said he thinks there are parts of
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Alden Bridge are expressing concerns for pedestrian safety with the exten- sion along with opposition to the sound walls. Maryann Braid, president of the Alden Bridge Village Association, said the biggest concerns are regarding the intersection of Gosling Road and Hwy. 242 west to FM 1488. “I have not heard one positive [remark] from any of the residents that I have spoken to,” Braid said. “The Windvale area of Alden Bridge is on the north side and south side of Hwy. 242. … The feeling I have gotten from everybody that I have spoken to
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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